By Buba Gagigo
Fatou Touray, the Chief Executive Officer of Kerr Fatou, and Sheriff Bojang Jr., Deputy Political Editor at The Africa Report, are set to participate in the upcoming “Media and Democracy in Africa” conference at the prestigious Brown University in Rhode Island, United States of America. The event, organized by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, will take place April 17–18 and is expected to convene leading journalists, scholars, and press freedom advocates from around the world.
The two-day forum will examine the evolving relationship between media and democratic governance across the African continent, as participants address mounting challenges faced by journalists and explore opportunities for media-academic collaboration in defending democratic values.
Friday’s sessions will feature a series of panels and roundtable discussions covering a wide array of issues, including the state of democracy and press freedom in Africa, the role of investigative journalism, the sustainability of independent media, and the influence of artificial intelligence and digital surveillance on journalistic work. The conference will conclude with a forward-looking roundtable on the future of media and democracy in Africa.
In a statement on its website, the Watson Institute noted the growing threats to press freedom on the continent, where journalists are increasingly subjected to physical attacks, harassment, censorship, and detention. The Institute cited concerns over the widespread use of repressive tactics—such as imprisonment, intimidation, and forced exile—by governments seeking to stifle dissenting voices.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 67 journalists were imprisoned across Africa as of December 2024, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the 361 media workers jailed worldwide. The organization also reported an uptick in the use of national security, antiterrorism, and cybercrime laws to restrict reporting and suppress freedom of expression.
Organizers say the conference aims to forge new partnerships, spark critical dialogue, and propose concrete solutions to protect journalists and uphold press freedom across the continent.